Community Happenings in June and July
Library of Things
After a short break, the Library of Things has relocated and reopened within HEART community information hub at the Priory Meadow entrance of Hastings Town Hall.
The library has some new librarians and is open on Fridays from 12.00-4.00pm and Saturdays from 10.00am-1.00pm. Fridays also include Make and Mend workshops during library hours and the relaunched cargo bike delivery service for £2.50 a trip.
Friday 14 June is Sewing Machine Awareness Day, and there’s an opportunity to come and try using a sewing machine between 12.00-3.30pm – and maybe even borrow one to take home.
Another exciting event is the Functional Mobile Phone Project taking place on the first Friday of every month from 5 July onwards. Drop off old phones and chargers so they can be given to people who need phones – with six months’ worth of data. Broken and unfixable phones will go for recycling via community supporters eco project in Bexhill.
For more information, contact [email protected] or visit umbrellasussex.org.uk
Free Family Fun Days at Broomgrove Community Centre
Throughout the summer, Active Hastings will run a number of free themed Saturday Family Fun Days at the Broomgrove Community Centre, including a Beach Dance Party on 15 June, 1.00-3.00pm and Olympic-themed games on 20 July, 1.00-3.00pm.
Active Hastings also run a range of low-cost or free activities at the Community Centre, including Zumba, Pilates, Creating a Healthier You exercise class, age-friendly activity and social sessions, Boxercise, under 5s Play and Stay, junior Muay Thai and the Friday Night Project.
Heather Jury, Physical Activity Development Officer for Broomgrove at Active Hastings, says: “As part of the UK Prosperity Fund, we are delivering a variety of physical activity opportunities in the Broomgrove area, which we hope will increase social interaction and encourage an active and healthy lifestyle.”
She would also like to hear what other activities the community would like to see at the centre, as well as anything that stops people from being active. “Pop along to one of the Saturday Family Fun Days to chat to the team.”
For more information visit activehastings.org.uk/listings or follow the Active Hastings Facebook page facebook.com/activehastings
Refugee Week with the Refugee Buddy Project
Following its 25th anniversary last year which saw over 9,500 events in 130 locations in the UK, Refugee Week once again aims to inspire audiences and convey the shared human experiences that bring us together.
The Light from Hell exhibition
The Refugee Buddy Project Hastings and Rother (TRBP) is one of hundreds of organisations responding to Refugee Week from 17 to 23 June. TRBP works with artists, creators and businesses for a week-long celebration creating a ‘community of welcome’ along the coast. Each year, Counterpoints Arts chooses a theme, and for 2024, it’s Our Home: “Everyone is invited to celebrate what Our Home means to them and make [it] a more welcoming, safe and sustainable place for all.”
Various strands are woven into the TRBP celebration: food and hospitality, stories and memories, and visual representations. There are activities for all, from a pub quiz (to test knowledge of all things British) to a pop-up exhibition and workshop in Priory Meadow; from setting up a garden project (behind Dove café) to a film depicting Hastings’ intergenerational, multinational community (Flavours without Borders) at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery.
The week offers an extraordinary exhibition by Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf at Electro Studios Gallery. Entitled The Light from Hell, it explores the line between hope and despair in Gaza, living without power, in every sense.
On the Solstice, Friday 21 June, activities centre round a community picnic at the West St Leonards Bathing Pool site. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own food, and there will be shared Palestinian food. Activities include a cycle ride, a beach clean under the title of Caring for our Earth, music, dancing and ‘visual scribing’ to create a visual memory of the event.
For more food experience, the Crown will be teaming up with guest chef from Dove café, Roa al Madi, to include Maqluba, a special collaborative dish, on their menu for the week.
For full information, see programme on p8 of the HIP List or contact [email protected]
Art in the Park
On 19 June, between 10.00am and 3.00pm, as part of Refugee Week, the Art in the Park team are inviting people to come and picnic to find out more about what they do and how they can get involved with the wonderfully creative Arts on Prescription (AOP). This will be a fun day with interactive creative workshops, once again celebrating the theme of Our Home. This will be in collaboration with other local groups promoting the services they offer.
Arts on Prescription
AOP projects aim to bring art to all, making it accessible and affordable. Tara Reddy says: “We rely on our community and fundraising to cover overheads and a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers to make it happen!“
The team of peer volunteers, artists and wellbeing practitioners provide accessible and inclusive weekly creative activities from Art in the Park at the old bowling pavilion in Alexandra Park to adults and families at pay-what-you-can rates.
Through the AOP peer mentoring volunteer programme, attendees flourish, access further education and training opportunities, often leading to employment.
Sanctuary Festival
On Sunday 23 June there is a free festival organised by Hastings Community of Sanctuary, which works closely with the TRBP. The Sanctuary Festival is a day of music, workshops, talks, activities for kids, food and friends and takes place at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery. It will be bigger than ever this year, with participants from 18 countries taking part.
Hastings Comedy Festival
Get ready for a week of laughter as the 9th annual Hastings Comedy Festival returns this month. This year the festival will run for seven days from Monday 10 June to 16 June. Participating venues include, Electric Palace, Jenny Lind, East Hastings Angling Club, Ye Olde Pump House, Albion, The Crypt, The Printworks, Brewing Brothers (Courtyard) The Good Place, as well as The Piper, Heist Market, Oscars, Sugar Pie Honey Buns and Cumbia Kitchen in St Leonards.
There is a packed programme of shows throughout the week. Headliners this year include previous British Comedian of the Year Jeff Innocent, Desiree Burch, Lucy Porter and Russell Hicks. Award-winning comedians such as Funny Woman winner Kate Checka, BBC new comedian of the year Frankie Monroe and 2022 Hastings Comedy Festival newcomer winner Dan Harding will be performing their shows during the week.
Britain’s Got Talent star El Baldiniho will be performing his kid’s comedy magic show at The Observer Building on Saturday 15 June along with Jed and Gary and award-winning kids show, Chemistry of Chaos.
Hastings Comedy Festival Newcomer competition, The Norman Award, returns on Saturday 15 June at The Crypt. Dan Harding, winner in 2022, will be performing his show at Albion on 13 June. There are many, many more shows to choose from. Programmes are available throughout the town, or you can check the festival’s website for full listings. This year’s poster and programme design is by talented local artist Georgie Wheeler.
Many shows are on a low-ticket warning, with some shows already sold out. The team encourages booking in advance to avoid disappointment, although tickets will be available on the door if the show is not sold out.
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